Arsenal's Quest for Eight Wins: Arteta's Insights Before Brighton Clash

Mikel Arteta walked into the room smiling, but Arsenal’s head coach knew the questions were coming from every angle – injuries, referees, contracts, records, kids, keepers, even the future of the club’s academy.

Brighton away is Arsenal’s fourth straight game on the road and the last before the new, elongated international break. The stakes are clear: win, and Arsenal make it eight wins from eight in all competitions – something the club says hasn’t happened since 1903.

Arteta’s message? Everyone’s ready. No distractions.

Injury boost before Brighton

Ben White? Fine.

“All good,” Arteta said. “We have another training session this afternoon, so very positive about everybody.”

That “everybody” includes Jurrien Timber, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie. All three are pushing to be involved.

“We have another session, they are willing to be part of it and we have another session to try to make sure they are fit.”

A gruelling run of away fixtures has not blunted Arsenal’s edge. Three wins from three so far on this stretch, with Brighton the final hurdle.

“That’s one of the challenges of the schedule, and the team has responded so well,” Arteta said. “Playing with such dominance, it doesn’t really matter if we play at home or away; we want to be the same team. We want to cause the same kind of problems to the opposition.”

Arteta, referees and the “Sir Alex” comparison

The fallout from the controversial Sunderland game and the club’s conversations with Pro Ref still hangs in the air. Jamie Carragher has suggested Arteta now has a “Sir Alex Ferguson” level of influence when he calls out refereeing mistakes.

Arteta pushed that idea away.

“I think I'm here to try to give my opinion, to defend my club, to give the very best to our players,” he said. “We need to respond in the most direct way, I think, and fair way. I will make mistakes sometimes, but I will try to be as fair as possible.”

On the talks with Pro Ref, he shut the door.

“This is a conversation that will remain private as usual and they have to keep that one.”

Manchester United have received an apology for a recent decision. Arteta insisted that’s not the point.

“It's not about the apology, it's just agreeing that the decision should have been different or not. Maybe they have a different opinion and try to improve and move forward together.”

He also revealed Brighton boss Fabian had apologised for his comments about Arsenal’s style and time-wasting after a clash in March.

“I have huge respect for Fabian, what he's done and what Brighton has done as a club. It's just remarkable, and tomorrow is going to be a beautiful game to watch, I'm sure.”

Contract talks calm, not dramatic

With the club flying, Arteta’s own future naturally came up. Arsenal want him to sign a new deal. He wants to sign. The fans want it done.

“I think we are all very much aligned,” he said. “Whenever the time is right, we'll get that done. There is nothing to be concerned about.”

Two years ago, news of his contract extension dropped around this point in the international break. Any symbolism in the timing this time?

“I don't know if the time will be the same or different,” he replied. “I think we both have the same ambition and the same will. So whenever we have time, we'll get that resourced.”

A new kind of international break

This will be the first of the extended international windows, with players away longer and schedules reshaped. Arteta is reserving judgment.

“Let's see, it's something that we'll have to experience,” he said. Different national teams are handling it in different ways, some with large squads, some travelling heavily.

“So it's going to be really important to have good communication with them so they understand where our players are, what we expect, what they expect as well. And work together, that's the best way always.”

Could the longer gaps actually help club momentum compared to the old stop-start pattern of August, September and November breaks?

“Let's see, let's see how it pans out,” he repeated. “Some play very locally in Europe, some others have travelled around the world as well for two and a half weeks. So we have to wait and see how this develops.”

Eight wins, 1903 and the reality of winning

Arsenal stand on the brink of a historic start. Win at Brighton and they make it eight straight victories to open the season in all competitions – something not seen at the club since the early 20th century.

Arteta is not getting lost in the numbers.

“We've got a really tough opponent tomorrow so we're going to have to earn the right to win the game,” he said. “But certainly that will be the mindset of the players and the team.”

He knows what it takes just to win one game at this level, let alone seven or eight.

“We know how complicated it is to win a football match at this level. So to win seven, it tells the story,” he said. “After the World Cup, especially, there were a lot of unknowns about how the players and the team were going to react. We didn't have any time with them to work together.

“But I said from day one, I think the attitude and what I was seeing, I was really impressed with. Then you have to put it down to performances. We had a bit of luck as well, for sure, to win four matches. And we are here. And then we want to make another one for sure tomorrow.”

Talk of another Invincibles season? He batted it away instantly.

“We just have enough on the plate today to prepare the game against a really good Brighton tomorrow. And we know how tough that's going to be and then the right to win it, that's it.”

Leadership, kids and the power of a split-second reaction

One of the moments that most pleased Arteta recently didn’t involve a goal or a tackle. It was Gabriel sprinting straight over to Marli Salmon after the teenager made an error in the cup.

“You cannot cause that. You have it, or you don't, because it's a split second,” Arteta said. “It's just a very emotional reaction when you're in the middle of the game, and I absolutely loved it because we've all been there.”

That reaction, he said, is huge for a 16-year-old.

“Just encouraging the confidence that it gives to a 16-year-old to go again and deliver in the next action, it's huge. It's good to see that bond, that connection within the team to try to help each other.”

Max Dowman is another teenager making noise. Two goals and a standout display at Ipswich have thrust him into the conversation.

“That's the best way to knock on the door: to do it on the pitch, not in the office,” Arteta said. “When a player delivers constantly on the pitch every single day in training. That's the best signal for the manager. That's the best signal for his teammates as well. They will demand that player playing.”

Max’s growth is not just technical.

“When you see how those players behave daily, the level of attention they put to any detail, the way they look after themselves, the standard that they set, if you become part of that environment, that's only going to raise your level,” Arteta said. “It’s going to educate you in a way that becomes a normality, and when that becomes a normality, then you will hit another level, because then you will be able to add to that, and that's where Max is at the moment.”

Building the future: youth, recruitment and retention

Behind the first team, Arsenal have been reshaping their youth structure. Per has moved on, Pascal has come in, and the club has been aggressive in recruiting young talents such as Victor in January and Andria Bartishvili.

“It's together as a club,” Arteta explained. “We know that if we want to constantly maintain this level and have the pathway already in-house, which is the best way, obviously, to bring players from the academy or from the youth teams to us, they need to be one of the best in the world at recruiting.

“Recruiting in the country, recruiting abroad, the best talent that we possibly can to give us the best chance to sustain that level.”

There is a flip side. Some prospects have left – Chido, Ayden, and this summer Nduka – while others like Max and Marli have committed to new deals.

“That is challenging because there are a lot of parties there. And obviously the way the system is set up is not easy,” Arteta admitted. “There are certain moments throughout those years that there are gaps that big decisions have to be made.

“Sometimes not only what we want to do is what the player or the agent or the family wants to do at times as well. And that's not easy. But we're going to try to, for sure, to keep the best talent in-house.”

Viktor, confidence and the striker’s dilemma

Viktor faces one of his former clubs this weekend. His minutes in the Premier League have been limited and the goals have not flowed yet.

Arteta does not see a player short of belief.

“Especially in the Premier League, he hasn't played that many minutes. But last week he played in Napoli, and he had a good game. I think that's about moments as well,” he said. “We need to give him all the support and confidence that he needs to deliver because we know the player that we have, the capacity that he has to score goals and what he can give to the team.”

The adaptation process is ongoing, both for Viktor and the side around him.

“I think the team is doing certain different things this season as well. It's a bit of both, but it's nothing unique for Viktor; it's for everybody,” Arteta said. “That's a constant evolution, player and team. And for sure our job, especially my job, is to try to fit that in and find those connections and that level of confidence for the player to give his best for the team.”

Sweden coach Graham Potter has suggested a change of environment with the national team could help spark Viktor. Arteta knows exactly what his striker needs.

“Especially for a striker, you know what, they need minutes and they need goals. That's what really boosts the energy of them and we have a game tomorrow and hopefully he can deliver that.”

Raya’s rise and Arteta’s “tremendous signing”

From non-league to the Premier League, to Arsenal, to arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and Golden Glove favourite. David Raya’s story was put to Arteta as one of the great modern climbs.

“That's a great story. For any kid as well to look at trajectories and pathways and how you can reach the highest level in football,” Arteta said. “Now, football, especially internationally, is so connected that you never know. You might be playing a game, somebody scouts you, and you can end up in two or three years' time playing at the highest level.”

For Arteta, Raya’s mentality has been decisive.

“Obviously, he has tremendous quality, but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and a lot of challenges to reach this point. When he reached this point, it wasn't easy at the beginning. He really has to dig in and improve himself,” he said, highlighting the work with goalkeeping coach Iñaki and the squad around him. “He has the right to be one of the best now.”

Is he Arteta’s best signing?

“I don't know, he's been a tremendous signing. There's no question about that, whether he's the best or not. It's just an opinion but it doesn't matter,” Arteta replied. “We are so happy to have him. I think he has elevated the team, the club to a different level and now we need to maintain that level.”

Midfield puzzles: Bruno and the left side

Bruno Guimaraes’ role has been a talking point. At Newcastle he has mostly played on the right of midfield; Arteta has often used him on the left.

“He can play on the left, on the right, in the middle, he can rotate from there,” Arteta said. “He's such a dynamic, versatile player that he can deliver great moments in any position.

“It will be more down to what we need on the day, the relationship that we have with the other midfielders and for sure what the opponent does as well.”

On the left wing, Eze has taken all his minutes there this season after the departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

“Well, he's always played there. His biggest moments in his career and the highlights of his career have come,” Arteta said. “I think it's a place that he feels very, very comfortable. He can occupy different spaces through them. But that's the space that generally he has created big moments for previous clubs to win matches.”

Eze shares that flank with Tzolis.

How does Arteta decide which game suits which winger?

“If they’re in form, in the opponent, in the relationship that we have within that unit, there are a lot of factors.”

Konsa, Gabriel and a partnership forming fast

Ezri Konsa’s impact has been immediate. Thrown into a physical battle with Brobbey against Sunderland, he impressed alongside Gabriel.

“Yeah, well, I had some great things about Ezri before he joined,” Arteta said. “When you have it daily, you just realise the magnitude of the player that we signed. Not only the player, but the person.”

The connection with Gabriel has struck him.

“The way he presents himself, the way he's able to connect with people immediately. We talked about Gabriel, when you see those two in the corridors talking, the way they interact with each other. It seems like they've been here for a long, long, long time together,” he said.

“For me, that's a partnership that is extremely important on the field. And then, yeah, his attributes, the quality that he delivers to the team, it's something that really makes us better.”